Volunteer to hand out free books

Fond du Lac Public Library will be a distribution center for World Book Night, April 23, 2014, the annual global effort “spreading the love of reading, person to person.”

World Book Night asks people to hand out 20 free books to teens or adults who are non-readers or light readers in “unexpected” areas where books normally wouldn’t be found. Books and all materials are provided. Volunteers can select the book they hand out from a list of 35, which includes best sellers and popular authors.

As a local distribution center, the library will receive the book shipments and hold an open house before April 23 to distribute books to volunteers.

World Book Night originated in the United Kingdom in 2011 and came to the United States in 2012. It celebrates April 23 as the UNESCO International Day of the Book. April 23 was chosen because it’s the day of Shakespeare’s birth and death. It was also chosen in honor of Miguel de Cervantes, who died on April 23, 1616, the same day as Shakespeare.